The Best Soup Bowls for Restaurants: Types, Sizes & Materials
As temperatures drop, warming soups become a popular choice on restaurant menus. Customers eat 17% more soup at restaurants during the winter months compared to other seasons. With autumn and winter menus in full swing, choosing the right soup bowls is essential for both presentation and service. From traditional pubs to modern cafes, the right catering crockery can help make every serving look its best.
Whether you’re serving a light starter or a hearty winter soup, there are plenty of styles to choose from. This guide explores the best bowls for restaurants, including sizes, materials and takeaway options.
What Are the Best Types of Soup Bowls for Restaurants?
Different soups call for different styles of crockery. While some venues prefer classic white soup bowls, others need deeper designs or practical handles.
Soup Bowls with Handles
Soup bowls with handles are a popular choice for pubs, cafes and traditional restaurants. The handles make them easier to carry and add a classic touch to food presentation.
They’re ideal for serving tomato soup, French onion soup and hearty vegetable broths. Plus, handled soup cups work well alongside bread rolls or crusty baguettes. For busy kitchens, stackable designs can also help save valuable storage space.
French Onion Soup Bowls
Traditional French onion soup bowls, often called lion head soup bowls, have a deep shape and decorative handles. They’re a great choice for French bistros, gastropubs and restaurants serving rich, warming dishes.
These bowls are particularly useful for soups topped with melted cheese and toasted bread. However, always check whether the product is oven-safe before placing it under a grill.
Rimmed and Coupe Soup Bowls
Rimmed soup bowls feature a wide edge that helps frame the dish. They’re particularly popular in hotels, restaurants and formal dining settings.
Meanwhile, a coupe soup bowl has a smooth, curved shape without a wide rim. This gives it a more modern appearance. Both styles work well for smooth soups, seasonal starters and dishes finished with herbs, cream or oils.
What Size Soup Bowl Should Restaurants Use?
Choosing the right size helps with portion control, presentation and food costs. Small bowls are useful for starters, while larger designs suit generous lunchtime portions.
As a general guide:
- 8 oz (237 ml): Small starters, tasting menus and light portions.
- 12 oz (355 ml): Standard restaurant starters and café lunches.
- 16 oz (473 ml): Large soup bowls for hearty meals and main courses.
These are approximate capacities rather than fixed serving sizes. It’s also worth leaving space below the rim to reduce spills.
Choosing the Best Soup Bowl Materials
When buying restaurant crockery, appearance is only one factor. Durability, cleaning and everyday use are just as important.
Porcelain Soup Bowls
Porcelain bowls are a reliable choice for busy restaurants, hotels and cafes. Their smooth finish makes them easy to clean, while white designs suit almost any table setting. Many commercial porcelain ranges are dishwasher-safe and designed for frequent use. However, always check individual product specifications.
Ceramic and Stoneware Soup Bowls
Ceramic bowls and stoneware designs bring a more relaxed feel to food presentation. Their natural colours and textured finishes suit gastropubs, independent restaurants and rustic dining spaces.
Stoneware is particularly effective for seasonal menus, including pumpkin soup, mushroom soup and winter stews. For venues looking to create a coordinated table setting, matching bowls with plates and side dishes can help bring everything together.
Melamine Bowls
Melamine bowls are lightweight and durable, making them useful for schools, outdoor catering and casual dining. They’re less likely to chip than traditional crockery and are easy to handle during busy service. However, melamine is generally unsuitable for microwaves or ovens. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidance.
Disposable Soup Bowls and Takeaway Containers
For cafés, food-to-go businesses and takeaway restaurants, disposable soup bowls are an essential alternative to traditional crockery. Takeaway containers are designed to make hot food easier to transport. Paper soup containers are particularly popular for serving soups, stews and other hot dishes. Many come with matching lids to help reduce spills during delivery.
Disposable bowls with lids are also useful for office catering, food markets and event venues. When choosing disposable soup containers, consider portion size, lid fit and suitability for hot liquids. It’s also worth checking the material and disposal instructions before making sustainability claims.
Soup Serving Bowls, Tureens and Soup Kettles
Restaurants serving large numbers of customers may need more than individual soup bowls. A soup kettle offers a traditional way to present soup at the table or during formal events.
Meanwhile, soup kettles are ideal for keeping prepared soup at a suitable serving temperature during service. They’re especially useful for hotels, buffets, cafes and catering businesses offering daily soup specials.
Pairing a soup kettle with matching serving bowls can help keep service organised during busy lunch periods.
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